international law

1. EU Treaties and Charters

A foundational statement of European values in relation to privacy vis-à-vis electronic communications, telecommunications, and commercial solicitation is set forth in Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Article 7 provides for the European analog to the U.S.

The International Court of Justice, a judicial tribunal established by the United Nations to hear disputes submitted by nations and to issue advisory opinions upon request of a United Nations organ, such as the General Assembly or Security Council. The World Court has 15 judges and sits in The Hague (Netherlands).

A pact between nations that, if entered into by the United States through its Executive Branch, must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. Presidents sometimes get around this requirement by entering into "Executive Agreements" with leaders of other countries; these are mutual understandings rather than enforceable treaties.

Under immigration law, the name of the visa category a person has been assigned and the group of privileges received upon becoming either a permanent resident or a nonimmigrant (temporary visa holder). For example, a green card shows that the holder has the status of a permanent resident and the privilege of living and working in the United States on a permanent basis. An F-1 or M-1 visa indicates that the holder has the status of a student and the privilege of attending school in the United States until the study program is completed.

1) A body of people that is politically organized, especially one that occupies a clearly defined territory and is sovereign. 2) The political system that governs such a body of people. 3) One of the constituent parts of a nation, as in any of the 50 states.

1) Crimes of robbery, kidnapping, and similar activities on the high seas. The trial and punishment of such pirates may be under international law, or under the laws of the particular nation where the pirate has been captured. 2) A colloquial term without legal significance often used to describe willful copyright, patent, and trademark infringement.